Painful as it is, this sounds like realistic advice.

You could wait until the heads are off to assess the pistons and block, but then if the engine needs to come out you will have to pay more because it takes more time to pull the heads with the engine in the car.

For what you will end up paying, you might want to consider a used engine, or maybe even a rebuilt long block. This would be more cost effective than paying shop rates for a rebuild, especially if you can pull the engine yourself. Metric Motors and Adsit can probably help you with a rebuild.

Good luck,

__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe